Crazy

In our house this is called "beds are fuckers" because he puts a toy under the bed and then pretends that the bed has stolen the toy. The bed is then taught a serious lesson. Behold:

The One With The Insects

Stephanie Plum

2008-2010

Happy Earth Day

Blowin' In The Wind

I don't know why this picture goes with this song. Maybe it's the ears. The video is actually just the audio of the song for your enjoyment.

Blowin' In The Wind

Bob Dylan

How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man?

Yes, 'n' how many seas must the white dove sail

Before she rests in the sand?

Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannonballs fly

Before they are forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind

How many years can a mountain exist

Before it is washed to the sea?

Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist

Before they're allowed to be free?

Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head

Pretending he just doesn't see?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind

How many times must a man look up

Before he can see the sky?

Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have

Before he can hear people cry?

Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take til he knows

That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind

Al And Julio, What The Hell?

For some reason I have really been into Paul Simon's music lately. I downloaded a bunch of his songs onto my iPod and have really been enjoying them. Nobody can match his rhythm and songwriting capabilities. However, I have noticed that some of his songs make absolutely no sense at all. Sometimes I look up the songs and try to see if anyone can find their meaning, but I stopped doing that after I spent way too long looking up the meaning of American Pie by Don McLean on Wikipedia. Anyway, here are the lyrics to two of my favorite Paul Simon songs. Any ideas?

Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard

The mama pajama rolled out of bed

And she ran to the police station

When the papa found out he began to shout

And he started the investigation

It's against the law

It was against the law

What the mama saw

It was against the law

The mama looked down and spit on the ground

Every time my name gets mentioned

The papa said oy if I get that boy

I'm gonna stick him in the house of detention

(Chorus) Well I'm on my way
I don't know where I'm going
I'm on my way I'm taking my time
But I don't know where
Goodbye to Rosie the Queen of Corona
Seeing me and Julio down by the schoolyard
See you, me and Julio down by the schoolyard

In a couple of days
They come and take me away
But the press let the story leak
And when the radical priest come to get me released
We was all on the cover of Newsweek

(Chorus)

You Can Call Me Al

A man walks down the street
He says why am I soft in the middle now
Why am I soft in the middle
The rest of my life is so hard
I need a photo opportunity
I want a shot at redemption
Don't want to end up a cartoon
In a cartoon graveyard
Bonedigger Bonedigger
Dogs in the moonlight
Far away my well lit door
Mr. Beerbelly Beerbelly
Get these mutts away from me
You know I don't find this stuff amusing anymore
If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me you can call me Al

A man walks down the street
He says why am I short of attention
Got a short little span of attention
And wo my nights are so long
Where's my wife and family
What if I die here
Who will be my role model
Now that my role model is
Gone Gone
He ducked back down the alley
With some roly poly little bat faced girl
All along along
There were incidents and accidents
There were hints and allegations

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me you can call me Al

A man walks down the street
It's a street in a strange world
Maybe it's the third world
Maybe it's his first time around
He doesn't speak the language
He holds no currency
He is a foreign man
Surrounded by the sound, the sound
Of cattle in the marketplace
Scatterlings and orphananages
He looks around, around
He sees angels in the architecture
Spinning in infinity
He says Amen! and Hallelujah!

If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me you can call me Al


So, I am thinking that since I have been really into my music lately, a couple times this week I am going to post a picture along with the lyrics to the song it reminds me of. I can't figure out how to share an Mp3 file, but if I can I will include the song as well.

Me And My Arrow

Me and my Arrow

Straighter than narrow

Wherever we go, everyone knows

It's me and my Arrow

Me and my Arrow

Taking the high road

Wherever we go, everyone knows

It's me and my Arrow

And in the morning when I wake up

He may be gone, I don't know

And we make up just to break up

I'll carry on, oh yes I will

Me and my Arrow

Straighter than narrow

Wherever we go, everyone knows

It's me and my Arrow.

-Henry Nilsson

Health Care Reform

I have been asked by several people recently about my views on the new Health Care Reform Bill.  

I have to say that I have not read all 2000+ pages of it, and am no expert in the field.  

Here are my basic feelings about the arguments surrounding the bill:

1. It is not socialism in the way that the Tea Baggers are talking about.  Go read up a little on socialism and see how many parts of the American government and public works are "socialized".

2. Children cannot be dropped from coverage for a preexisting condition.  Most of the children I work with were born with a preexisting condition.  There was never a time in their life when this condition did not exist.  They are the ones who need healthcare most.  These children will be much better cared for under this new law.

3. "The government is going to get between me and my doctor."  Okay, here are the three scenarios now: 

a) You have private insurance: that insurance company is between you and your doctor.

b) You have MediCare or Medicaid: the government is between you and your doctor.  

c) You don't have insurance: you probably don't see a doctor. 

There is always going to be someone that has to deal with the economics of healthcare.  The hope is that if we can limit the power of private insurance companies, who employ people solely to turn down claims, then maybe the system will work better.  It is not perfect.  There is never going to be a time when you can walk into a doctor's office, tell them where it hurts, walk out with some pills and no paperwork needs to be done.  It is a necessary evil.  

4. Children up to age 26 can stay on their parents insurance policy.  That is huge.  Do you know how many uninsured college students are out there? Imagine not having to worry about going into debt over insurance and health costs while you are trying to pay for college.  It would be an amazing relief for many people.  

My final thoughts: I think this entire HealthCare fiasco could have been handled better if the Republicans stopped throwing hissy fits and the Democrats stood up for themselves.  The religious and racist undertones coming out of the Republican party recently have been appalling.  Clearly for them it is Party before Country.  The Democrats could have gotten the real information out there in a cleaner form.  If you give the people the facts of the bill, then Sarah Palin and FOX news can only twist the info so much.  It is an imperfect bill, but it is damn better than what we have right now.  Hey Republicans, maybe if you had helped a little instead of having your heads so far up your asses it would be a little more to your liking.  The bill was passed while you guys pouted.  I'm sorry the Democrats took "your" Presidency and "your" Majority and your candy, but GET OVER IT AND GOVERN!

Looking A Little Like A Flapper

Old And New

I have know idea why, but the minute I saw this picture I thought of an old Girl Scouts song. 

Make new friends 

But keep the old

One is silver

And the other gold

My Blogiversary

One year ago today I started this blog.  Over 400 posts later I am still having fun and I hope you are too.  Since that first day I have blogged about monkeys and sheep and cows.  About children and new life and death.  About special needs and work and my commute. Grapes and the Napa Valley and hot air balloons. I blogged about glitter glue and kids quotes and my hamster.  I've mentioned birthdays, anniversaries and deathaversaries.  Since that first post I have changed the blog design, created a calendar, bought a new camera and lenses, traveled and blogged about it, broken my butt, welcomed new friends, grieved losses, witnessed joy and sorrow, laughed, lived and learned a lot.  

And I balanced quite a few things on Arrow's head.  Like my BlackBerry, pasta, TicTacs, hats, scarves, goggles, sunglasses, Vodka bottles, mustard bottles, flowers, hair bows, stuffed animals, flags, tennis balls, visors and once the hamster.  Not a good idea.

Thanks for taking this ride with me.  I look forward to starting my second blog year with you.

Really Bad Camouflage

This is the good for nothing coyote that lives on our property.  She mostly stays on one sunny area of the driveway and has gotten really uppity about letting cars pass.  Clearly she isn't afraid.  Doesn't this look just say "Bring it. Just try me"?

Moo

Don't look for a reason.  There isn't one.

Getting Burned

Remember the "Unborn Wine" series of vineyard shots I did through the Spring and Summer of last year?  You can check a few of them out here, and here. 

This is what that vineyard looks like now.

See all of that green grass in the foreground?  That is where the vines used to be.  Those burning piles are the vines themselves.  This is the time of year that, for various reasons, some wineries choose to uproot entire vineyards and replant for the Spring.  The vines are then burned, which I am sure is nutritious for the soil.  It's just the circle of life. Just the changing of seasons.  But when I passed these burning piles I realized that I captured the last grapes to grow on these vines.  I photographed them from bud break to harvest.  Pretty neat.

Howdy Partner

Footsies, Froggies and Faux Hawks

On Saturday I had the pleasure of staying with H for a few hours while his parents ventured out for the first time since he changed their world.  His Momma and Daddy were very brave to leave him and we had lots of fun. 

 At first he was all, "Whaa? You do know what you're doing right?"

But once I assured him I indeed knew what I was doing, I got a few smiles.

He's so delicious.  And did he cry? Not a single time.  Perfect behavior and gorgeous.  Watch out ladies.